A burnout is a specific form of stress that is often found in jobs with frequent and intensive personal contact. Education, health care and management positions are examples of risk sectors. Burnout literally means being burned down or washed out. It is caused by a long-term period of excessive stress. It’s a process of years that eventually leads to a sense of emotional exhaustion.
The burnout process is reversible, but this requires time. There are no ready-made answers for dealing with a burnout or recognising and solving the signals.
Lack of energy, desire or passion
One of the main symptoms of a burnout is a lack of energy or desire to do even the smallest tasks. Neither working nor activities at home seem useful. From playing with your children to having sex with your partner, everything seems an impossible task. You lie on the couch staring at the TV listlessly and exhausted.
Constant worry and poor sleep
Constant worry and poor sleep are also signs of a burnout. You worry about your work all day: the pressure it involves, colleagues who are cutting corners or targets you will probably not reach. This worrying goes on day and night. This results in lack of sleep, and feeling increasingly fatigued because of which you function even worse and subsequently start worrying even more. The end result is that you exhaust yourself and risk a burnout.
Poorer physical condition or care
Apart from chronic fatigue, one of the most common characteristics of a burnout, there is usually also low physical resistance. Working hard in combination with an unhealthy diet often go hand in hand. After sometime this has serious repercussions on your health. Colds, feeling fluey, headache and gastrointestinal complaints occur regularly with a burnout.
Being oversensitive and getting irritated quickly
Being too focused on your work can result in being oversensitive and getting irritated more quickly. After a long day at work it’s best to relax. However, this isn’t always possible with a family: your children demand your attention, want to play, put on the TV or radio too loud, slam doors, etc. This overload of stimuli can be really irritating and make you lose your temper. Are you suffering from this? Be alert, as these are clear pointers towards a burnout.
Indifference and low self-esteem
Being less involved in your work, behaving indifferently, aloofness and/or decreasing interest in your own work and that of your colleagues are all symptoms of a burnout. The same applies to insecurity about your work performance, low self-esteem and negative thoughts.
Do you recognise yourself in one of the symptoms below? Don’t hesitate and send an e-mail to our Online Coach for a tailored personal approach.
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